FOUR WEDDING RE-ENACTMENTS THIS YEAR AT UPPER CANADA VILLAGE

The first of four 1860s weddings will be offered this coming Sunday, June 28, at Upper Canada Village, as an 1860s Methodist Wedding re-enactment unfolds for all to experience. The event will be the first of four different “19th Century Weddings” to be held this summer, each with a unique cast of characters from the past, making these social events among the Village’s most compelling and well-attended days of the season.

“These 1860s weddings are very popular with guests, and they are an ideal way to attract new visitors to the Village,” explains Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission which operates Upper Canada Village. “The special traditions of weddings provide a unique glimpse into 19th century social life and visitors become a part of the celebration.”

Upper Canada Village pays careful attention to details in recreating “the big day”, as each event is thoroughly researched. Peter Cazaly, Research Officer for Upper Canada Village who assists in the development of scenarios for the re-enactments at the historic attraction, explains, “This year’s wedding will portray the union of two fictitious characters of the Methodist Church. The Methodist denomination was the biggest Protestant group in English Canada before Confederation.“ Young Miriam McDiarmid, an orphan whose maiden aunts at the McDiarmid house have raised her to be a respectable and much admired young lady, will be marrying a young farmer from the north end of the township, Mr. Alexander Cameron. Mr. Cameron owns a small farm in the Winchester area and is anxious to share his home and his dreams with his young bride. The event will reflect the traditions and customs becoming this young couple in the 1860s.

In the morning before the wedding, visitors to Upper Canada Village may drop in at the McDiarmid house to see the preparations not only for the wedding but for the small and simple reception to be held afterwards at the bride’s home. The aunts will be packing a small trunk for her move to her new home with practical items and some things for the household. The groom will call for his bride at the house at around 1:20 pm. and will escort her and her attendant to the church, while his parents and his best man will walk separately to the church and await his arrival. All guests should arrive at Providence Chapel before the ceremony starts at 1.30 pm.

“The service will be very typical of Methodist weddings of the day,” explains Mr. Cazaly, “For example, there are no wedding rings exchanged during a Methodist wedding. Methodists disapproved of jewellery or any ostentatious show of wealth.” After a half hour service, complete with hymns, the bride, groom and wedding party will gather outside, where visitors will be able to take photographs of them in their wedding finery.

The bride and groom, after a decent interval, will walk back to the McDiarmid House, followed by their attendants and family members. By the time they arrive, the ladies at the house will have set out some 19th century refreshments and a pleasant non-alcoholic time will be had by all. There will be a small simple wedding cake and the bride and groom will cut the cake and offer some to guests and the visiting public.

Upper Canada Village will host three more weddings this summer, each unique and distinctive: On Sunday, July 19, the second wedding of the season will be a Lutheran ceremony. The American nephew of the Lutheran pastor, the Reverend Mr. Hunton, is marrying a daughter of Mr. Michael Cook, the proprietor of Cook’s Tavern. The Reverend Mr. Hunton will marry the couple at the Lutheran manse.

The social event of the season takes place on Sunday, August 2 as the daughter of John Pliny Crysler marries an officer of Kingston’s Fort Henry Guard at Christ Church, beginning with a procession of carriages from the steps of Crysler Hall. Afterwards, Crysler Hall hosts a garden party, round of croquet, and country dances.

Sunday, August 30 sees a Loucks family home wedding featuring a “mature” bride from the Loucks farm marrying a widower who needs a new wife to help raise his large family. The bride has taught school for many years and now gives up her career in order to take on the role of wife and mother.

Visitors may attend these wedding ceremonies as part of their regular admission to Upper Canada Village.